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librarian_kj's review against another edition
3.0
Easy read. Anticlimactic ending. But entertaining enough to finish.
a_mae13's review against another edition
2.75
"Oh really? You felt human? How very special for you." "No. I felt like a god."
Oh look, another book that I remember nearly nothing about besides that I enjoyed it and that I had read another circus-themed book 😂 this was like the third or fourth book I read that was centered on a circus. Miraculum was a slow-burn plot about the Spectacular Star Light Miraculum, a traveling carnival that's petering out in terms of popularity. It's the 1920s, so there's new and exciting entertainment on the market. But the carnival pushes on.
As soon as we meet the freaks of the show, a man is found dead hanging in a tree (I'm pretty sure). He was the show's geek, someone who bites the heads off of chickens. It's ruled as a suicide since he was hanging. Conveniently, a new man in town named Daniel and he's willing to fill in as the geek. Ruby, the carnival's snake charmer, is pretty reserved and doesn't love the new guy. Everything seems a bit suspish to her, since the previous geek had JUST died. But, it's business so the owner puts Daniel in the show.
Of course, Daniel isn't what he seems to be and since he's started, all of these weird things start to happen. Soon after, there is another death. I'm pretty sure that this guy was found dead and it was presumed that he fell off of the Ferris wheel. We soon discover that there is more to these characters than what's on the surface. Ruby was abandoned by her family, living with her grandparents in a small cottage in the forest. She's sent away to become a tattooed woman in New Orleans, but the tattoos she receives aren't the beautiful, precise images that the other girls have. Hers are tribal, minimal, and tattooed with ancient methods, leaving her with undefined patterns rather than the remarkable masterpieces that she's seen. She stays with a woman who's a well-known hoodoo master. Ruby becomes infatuated with the history of hoodoo, the gods, the magic, and the rituals. That is until these things come to life around her. Also, her dad is the Pontillier, the carnival owner.
After the second death hits the carnival, Ruby starts to snoop on Daniel. He's too normal to be a geek. He's got clean clothes and fancy accessories, he's not hurting for money and doesn't need the poor income that geeks make. So why is he there?Well, he's a trickster god, that's why. He's come to wreak havoc on the carnival before he moves to his next chaos site. With his magic, he can charm and manipulate others, making them do whatever it is he wants or demands. But Ruby? She's immune. Why? Her tattoos. The hoodoo master foretold a prophecy that Ruby would eventually cross paths with this god and wanted to arm her with charms to defeat him.
Daniel is frustrated with her immunity and explodes, literally. He sets the carnival ablaze and destroys everything in his path, including people. One of the side characters, January, melts to death in Ruby's arms. Many others die (except our main characters of course) and this is the breaking point for Ruby. She vows to defeat him and seeks the help of Hayden, her ex-boyfriend, and an artist with the carnival (who is technically a main character but a bit forgettable unfortunately). They set up a little blackmail situation at a ball. I don't remember how we got here, but we did. It's a black and white theme but Ruby wears a bright red gown to stand out and grab Daniels's attention. This is where things get a little confusing because it's described as a power balance, Ruby can see into his power and Daniel can see into hers. And then it just ends, literally. It's a funny ending because he is a trickster god, and he says "Oh well you don't get to know how it ends, she drove me out of town and won this time". I suppose it leaves it open for additional installments, but it's a little disappointing since Ruby and Daniel were the only characters that I cared about.
Overall it was an interesting storyline. I really liked the hoodoo aspect and the introduction of the old gods. There are a lot of circus books that focus on magical carnivals where the carnival is literal magic. But this was a historical representation of carnival acts, where you had people who practiced hoodoo, snake charmers, menagerie girls, and ancient books of gods and spells. It has a tragic backstory of our main characters, both Ruby and Hayden, and a mystery character that appears after death and destruction. While it was a bit slow to start and had a very abrupt and unresolved ending, the majority of it was captivating and entertaining.
Oh look, another book that I remember nearly nothing about besides that I enjoyed it and that I had read another circus-themed book 😂 this was like the third or fourth book I read that was centered on a circus. Miraculum was a slow-burn plot about the Spectacular Star Light Miraculum, a traveling carnival that's petering out in terms of popularity. It's the 1920s, so there's new and exciting entertainment on the market. But the carnival pushes on.
As soon as we meet the freaks of the show, a man is found dead hanging in a tree (I'm pretty sure). He was the show's geek, someone who bites the heads off of chickens. It's ruled as a suicide since he was hanging. Conveniently, a new man in town named Daniel and he's willing to fill in as the geek. Ruby, the carnival's snake charmer, is pretty reserved and doesn't love the new guy. Everything seems a bit suspish to her, since the previous geek had JUST died. But, it's business so the owner puts Daniel in the show.
Of course, Daniel isn't what he seems to be and since he's started, all of these weird things start to happen. Soon after, there is another death. I'm pretty sure that this guy was found dead and it was presumed that he fell off of the Ferris wheel. We soon discover that there is more to these characters than what's on the surface. Ruby was abandoned by her family, living with her grandparents in a small cottage in the forest. She's sent away to become a tattooed woman in New Orleans, but the tattoos she receives aren't the beautiful, precise images that the other girls have. Hers are tribal, minimal, and tattooed with ancient methods, leaving her with undefined patterns rather than the remarkable masterpieces that she's seen. She stays with a woman who's a well-known hoodoo master. Ruby becomes infatuated with the history of hoodoo, the gods, the magic, and the rituals. That is until these things come to life around her. Also, her dad is the Pontillier, the carnival owner.
After the second death hits the carnival, Ruby starts to snoop on Daniel. He's too normal to be a geek. He's got clean clothes and fancy accessories, he's not hurting for money and doesn't need the poor income that geeks make. So why is he there?
Daniel is frustrated with her immunity and explodes, literally. He sets the carnival ablaze and destroys everything in his path, including people. One of the side characters, January, melts to death in Ruby's arms. Many others die (except our main characters of course) and this is the breaking point for Ruby. She vows to defeat him and seeks the help of Hayden, her ex-boyfriend, and an artist with the carnival (who is technically a main character but a bit forgettable unfortunately). They set up a little blackmail situation at a ball. I don't remember how we got here, but we did. It's a black and white theme but Ruby wears a bright red gown to stand out and grab Daniels's attention. This is where things get a little confusing because it's described as a power balance, Ruby can see into his power and Daniel can see into hers. And then it just ends, literally. It's a funny ending because he is a trickster god, and he says "Oh well you don't get to know how it ends, she drove me out of town and won this time". I suppose it leaves it open for additional installments, but it's a little disappointing since Ruby and Daniel were the only characters that I cared about.
Overall it was an interesting storyline. I really liked the hoodoo aspect and the introduction of the old gods. There are a lot of circus books that focus on magical carnivals where the carnival is literal magic. But this was a historical representation of carnival acts, where you had people who practiced hoodoo, snake charmers, menagerie girls, and ancient books of gods and spells. It has a tragic backstory of our main characters, both Ruby and Hayden, and a mystery character that appears after death and destruction. While it was a bit slow to start and had a very abrupt and unresolved ending, the majority of it was captivating and entertaining.
rawndiggity's review against another edition
5.0
I discovered Steph Post's work due to reading rave reviews about her novel Lightwood, which happened to be another excellent read. When I read the premise of Miraculum, it intrigued me enough to pick up a copy. Plus, I can't resist circus settings!
Populated by memorable characters, an intriguing antagonist, and teasing just enough information and backstory as we go along, Miraculum held my interest throughout. Well-written and packed with emotion, you'll feel like you just got off a wild ride once you finish.
Fans of rural noir will find this book appealing, though it's so much more than that. For anyone missing HBO's Carnivale, this book will satisfy your craving.
Populated by memorable characters, an intriguing antagonist, and teasing just enough information and backstory as we go along, Miraculum held my interest throughout. Well-written and packed with emotion, you'll feel like you just got off a wild ride once you finish.
Fans of rural noir will find this book appealing, though it's so much more than that. For anyone missing HBO's Carnivale, this book will satisfy your craving.
kleonard's review against another edition
1.0
Less a miraculum than a slightly over-stuffed novel in which not much happens. Ruby, tattooed by a stereotypical and offensive "vodoo" woman and covered in symbols that protect her from supernatural evil, works as the snake charmer in a carnival owned by her father, who is incompetent are barely shows up in the book, and another stereotype, the noble savage, an African man whose knowledge of everything is unsurpassed. Ruby has a friend, January, who dances in the "cootch show," and an on-again off-again boyfriend who is pretty useless and doesn't play much of a role. When Daniel, an ancient immortal evil, joins the carnival to entertain himself by causing evil chaos, Ruby is the only one immune to his powers of suggestion. When he causes multiple deaths and the carnival burns down, taking Ruby's father and January with it, Ruby decides her destiny is to fight Daniel. Accompanied by the useless boyfriend, Ruby and Daniel have a stare-down that is the most boring climax of any book I have ever read. Daniel is defeated. Ruby lives. The boyfriend remains useless.
The author hints at things she never develops, or drops altogether. In the first few chapters, there are references to Ruby seeing things others don't. This apparently turns out to be that she can tell when people are untrustworthy. Not so much seeing in a supernatural way. We read about Ruby's long-dead mother, but she ends up not being terribly important. We read about arcane books, one of which turns out to be kind of useful but not very interesting. the trappings of the carnival are present, but there are no interesting characters and none of those who survive develop at all. I'd have liked it better if Ruby and January had teamed up to stop the immortal evil. Or if she had become apprenticed to the owner of the arcane books and they had worked together. But nope, Ruby is special and capable only because of a mixed-race woman who gave her magic tattoos (and who is killed off in a gruesome fashion by the immortal evil). Ultimately, this is a story in which white folks triumph, the black folks mostly get killed, and women are reduced to being skin.
The author hints at things she never develops, or drops altogether. In the first few chapters, there are references to Ruby seeing things others don't. This apparently turns out to be that she can tell when people are untrustworthy. Not so much seeing in a supernatural way. We read about Ruby's long-dead mother, but she ends up not being terribly important. We read about arcane books, one of which turns out to be kind of useful but not very interesting. the trappings of the carnival are present, but there are no interesting characters and none of those who survive develop at all. I'd have liked it better if Ruby and January had teamed up to stop the immortal evil. Or if she had become apprenticed to the owner of the arcane books and they had worked together. But nope, Ruby is special and capable only because of a mixed-race woman who gave her magic tattoos (and who is killed off in a gruesome fashion by the immortal evil). Ultimately, this is a story in which white folks triumph, the black folks mostly get killed, and women are reduced to being skin.
kwough's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
margot_meanders's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to my friend's glowing review, I preordered this book, driven by curiosity about the interesting plot and catchy cover. I'm not disappointed at all. It was like reading a retelling of a myth, I enjoy those, and what's more I enjoy compelling narratives. This one had its distinct flavour that I enjoyed very much. It's a page-turner and unputdownable. It's just the right amount of dark and right amount of myth, with some intriguing events to keep the interest, and likeable supporting characters, with a touch of a romantic feel to it on top of everything. There is never a dull moment.
The story is set in an early 20th century wandering circus. There are all sorts of distinct and colourful characters, and their presence, their little side stories really bring out the character of the place, add vividness and life. It's like outside the world, a liminal place, and they have their own. Yes, I really liked this feel. Circus and carnival are, in my experience, generally places accepting and welcoming to strangeness, difference, you can just be yourself. It's a perfect setting for all sorts of wonder. The ongoing, recurring feeling that stuck to me is that many characters were liminal, struggled with being a part of a place or feeling left out. The circus performers do not feel welcome outside. Neither does Ruby. Same for Daniel, who is very much outside of anything. Hayden, who is connected to Ruby, comes and goes as he pleases, he is between the worlds as well. Then there is Samuel who also feels like a character between reality and myth. This sort of setting on threshold is interesting and perfect for all sorts of mysterious, strange things. And there are plenty of those.
But something disturbs that dazzling, little world. Things start happening that turn it upside down. Daniel a man of secrets and a great antagonist enters the scene and finds an interesting match in Ruby, the snake charmer that makes him want to play a game with her. They soar, their connection is very palpable and intense, Daniel is a very good villain, with a lot of secrets and aspects about him that make him magnetic. I am not really surprised at anyone who "shipped" him and Ruby. Ruby has a lot of charisma and strong will, it's hard not be drawn to her. Together, they are explosive and share an implicit understanding. Daniel has so much to him but among other things he also has curiosity and interest in certain things - i liked those little things about him.
This story was the right blend of noir,magic and myth and the setting was really vivid, characters very likeable and colorful and I really enjoyed the feeling of otherworlidness and standing outside both reality and time, things happening in different planes. The writing is very engaging.
One thing I regret a little was that Hayden felt a little dwarfed and I feel like he could have been a little more. I really liked him, his "ordinariness", making mistakes as part of human experience but understanding where his heart is, as a balance and shoulder to rely on, as someone who is implictly willing to support. I liked his understanding and acceptnace and most of all, his perceptiveness and good instinct. But I felt he was a little downplayed and a little underappreciated /overlooked, when he could have been a lot more. I liked him though, I felt he was a good counterbalance for Ruby.
The narrative, the setting are compelling, characters colourful, an extremely fun read, with a sense of wonder. The Star Light is a very engaging world of its own right.
miraculum, miraculi, n.
amazement, freak, miracle, amazing act/event/object/sight , wonder, marvel
And I found all that, in the best senses, in Miraculum, an engaging, imaginative story.
The story is set in an early 20th century wandering circus. There are all sorts of distinct and colourful characters, and their presence, their little side stories really bring out the character of the place, add vividness and life. It's like outside the world, a liminal place, and they have their own. Yes, I really liked this feel. Circus and carnival are, in my experience, generally places accepting and welcoming to strangeness, difference, you can just be yourself. It's a perfect setting for all sorts of wonder. The ongoing, recurring feeling that stuck to me is that many characters were liminal, struggled with being a part of a place or feeling left out. The circus performers do not feel welcome outside. Neither does Ruby. Same for Daniel, who is very much outside of anything. Hayden, who is connected to Ruby, comes and goes as he pleases, he is between the worlds as well. Then there is Samuel who also feels like a character between reality and myth. This sort of setting on threshold is interesting and perfect for all sorts of mysterious, strange things. And there are plenty of those.
But something disturbs that dazzling, little world. Things start happening that turn it upside down. Daniel a man of secrets and a great antagonist enters the scene and finds an interesting match in Ruby, the snake charmer that makes him want to play a game with her. They soar, their connection is very palpable and intense, Daniel is a very good villain, with a lot of secrets and aspects about him that make him magnetic. I am not really surprised at anyone who "shipped" him and Ruby. Ruby has a lot of charisma and strong will, it's hard not be drawn to her. Together, they are explosive and share an implicit understanding. Daniel has so much to him but among other things he also has curiosity and interest in certain things - i liked those little things about him.
This story was the right blend of noir,magic and myth and the setting was really vivid, characters very likeable and colorful and I really enjoyed the feeling of otherworlidness and standing outside both reality and time, things happening in different planes. The writing is very engaging.
One thing I regret a little was that Hayden felt a little dwarfed and I feel like he could have been a little more. I really liked him, his "ordinariness", making mistakes as part of human experience but understanding where his heart is, as a balance and shoulder to rely on, as someone who is implictly willing to support. I liked his understanding and acceptnace and most of all, his perceptiveness and good instinct. But I felt he was a little downplayed and a little underappreciated /overlooked, when he could have been a lot more. I liked him though, I felt he was a good counterbalance for Ruby.
The narrative, the setting are compelling, characters colourful, an extremely fun read, with a sense of wonder. The Star Light is a very engaging world of its own right.
miraculum, miraculi, n.
amazement, freak, miracle, amazing act/event/object/sight , wonder, marvel
And I found all that, in the best senses, in Miraculum, an engaging, imaginative story.
robynryle's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book. Sort of like American Gods meets Carnival meets The Night Circus. Beautifully written and plotted and conceived with characters that jump to life and a wonderfully constructed historical backdrop.
missoliviareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Although over long in parts, I really did not expect this book to turn out the way it did. Don't let the cover fool you - magic, mystery and deception await you in these pages!
bickleyhouse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is another one of those books that caught my eye while I was shelving other books. Of course, I don't remember what book I was shelving, but the title caught my eye, as well as the font used for the title. As I read the description on the flyleaf, I noted that it's about a carnival. That was all I needed to see.
I love stories about carnivals, a favorite being, of course, Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Bradbury. I also really enjoyed the short-lived Showtime series, Carnivale. There is just something wickedly delightful about carnivals.
And this one did not disappoint. It's 1922, and Pontilliar's Spectacular Star Light Miraculum travels along the Texas/Louisiana border. A mysterious stranger shows up, conveniently, right after the carnival's "geek" had hanged himself. This stranger was offering to be the new geek. This stranger is named Daniel.
Daniel turns out to not be quite what he seems (anyone surprised??).
I will admit that, at the outset, this book had such a strong resemblance to Nightmare Alley (I've seen the movie, but have not read the book), that I was immediately suspecting some sort of plagiarism. However, the similarities ended pretty quickly. More strange things happen, as the carnival continues moving eastward. In fact, they had to leave the town they were in early because of the geek's hanging.
As things get more strange, Daniel and Ruby (our protagonist) aren't hitting it off quite well. For one thing, she seems immune to Daniel's charms. But Ruby has a pretty strange backstory, herself, and has some odd tattoos that appear to be more than just simple tattoos.
I won't reveal any more of the plot, in order to avoid spoilage. But I will say that it was the last, oh, approximately fifty pages that drove this book into five-star territory. The final confrontation is epic, to say the least.
Steph Post has crafted a great story, with wonderful characters. Being a carnival, of course we have the freaks and the girls for the "girly shows," as well as the hands who set up and take down. We have Ruby, who is not exactly a freak, but with her tattoos, couldn't do a straight up girly show. So She's a snake handler. The backstory for Ruby is chilling, I'll say, and Daniel's real persona even more so.
Miraculum is an epic tale, and I will definitely be looking for more books by Ms. Post.
I love stories about carnivals, a favorite being, of course, Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Bradbury. I also really enjoyed the short-lived Showtime series, Carnivale. There is just something wickedly delightful about carnivals.
And this one did not disappoint. It's 1922, and Pontilliar's Spectacular Star Light Miraculum travels along the Texas/Louisiana border. A mysterious stranger shows up, conveniently, right after the carnival's "geek" had hanged himself. This stranger was offering to be the new geek. This stranger is named Daniel.
Daniel turns out to not be quite what he seems (anyone surprised??).
I will admit that, at the outset, this book had such a strong resemblance to Nightmare Alley (I've seen the movie, but have not read the book), that I was immediately suspecting some sort of plagiarism. However, the similarities ended pretty quickly. More strange things happen, as the carnival continues moving eastward. In fact, they had to leave the town they were in early because of the geek's hanging.
As things get more strange, Daniel and Ruby (our protagonist) aren't hitting it off quite well. For one thing, she seems immune to Daniel's charms. But Ruby has a pretty strange backstory, herself, and has some odd tattoos that appear to be more than just simple tattoos.
I won't reveal any more of the plot, in order to avoid spoilage. But I will say that it was the last, oh, approximately fifty pages that drove this book into five-star territory. The final confrontation is epic, to say the least.
Steph Post has crafted a great story, with wonderful characters. Being a carnival, of course we have the freaks and the girls for the "girly shows," as well as the hands who set up and take down. We have Ruby, who is not exactly a freak, but with her tattoos, couldn't do a straight up girly show. So She's a snake handler. The backstory for Ruby is chilling, I'll say, and Daniel's real persona even more so.
Miraculum is an epic tale, and I will definitely be looking for more books by Ms. Post.